From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On 06-3-2013, approximately 8:30 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a local hospital emergency room nurse who reported a 33-year-old female was at the hospital who was being treated for a sexual assault. 

A deputy responded to the hospital and met with the victim. She reported she was walking on US 101 near Rio Dell early today, when she got a ride from an unknown Asian female who dropped her off near the Pepperwood exit, Holmes Flat area. After being dropped off she walked down to the Eel River and went for a swim. During her swim, she lost her pants in the rapids. She walked back to Avenue of the Giants and began walking south again towards her mother’s residence in Weott, however she was not wearing pants, only underwear, a bra and t-shirt. 

She walked for about ten minutes when she encountered three males in a light blue Ford van in a turn out. She asked the males for a ride, and they agreed to give her a ride. After evaluating the males further, she decided to decline the ride because she did not feel comfortable with the males. The three males then drove off in the van. She then continued walking south on Avenue of the Giants. Further down the road as she was walking, the three males suddenly exited the brush and all three sexually assaulted her. During the assault she struck one of the males in the face with a tree branch she found causing injury to the males face. The victim believes she may have broken the male’s nose or knocked out some of his teeth.

After the assault the victim ran to a nearby residence for help, and the residents gave her a ride to the hospital.

The victim described her attackers as follows:

1. White Male, 19-25 years old, approximately, 6’ tall, 160 pounds, red curly hair with fresh injuries to his face and nose.

2. White Male, 19-25 years old, approximately 6’2” tall, approximately 160 pounds, blond hair, wearing black jeans

3. White male, 19-25 years old, approximately 6‘2” tall, approximately 160 pounds, brown hair

Suspect Vehicle: Light Blue older Ford Van, possibly late 1970’s or early 1980’s no side windows in the rear cargo area. Only the front seats and back doors had windows.

Anyone with information for the Sheriffs Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.